Hey all,
I am thinking of writing a sample based MiniMoog App for the iPhone. (I think there already is one or two, but just for fun). If I release it in the App Store, what are the legalities behind using the term MiniMoog? I've noticed other sample-based software like Reason never uses the word MiniMoog even when it's obvious that's what they're going for. I am sure I can't call the program MiniMoog. But can I say I sampled from the MiniMoog? Does anyone know?

The worst that could happen is that you'll get some kind of cease-and-desist order from Moog. Maybe nothing will happen. But the fact that you're inquiring about the legality says something about whether you should use the name at all.

Moog Music almost certainly has "Minimoog" registered as a tradement. They'd be fools if they didn't. What a lot of the soft-synth writers do is come up with a name that's similar enough that the knowledgable customer knows what it's about, but without violating the trademark. "Oddity" and "M-Tron", for example. You might considering calling your app something like "Mini-M".

i personally don't see why you couldn't use the name minimoog in describing the source of the samples, it's seems like pretty fair game given the nature of it's use. i'd definitely include a disclaimer stating that Moog Music does not endorse the product. however, it gets murkier if you were to use the name in the App Store description, where its inclusion may be perceived as a means of promoting your product.

you can always contact Moog Music and tell them what you're up to and what you want to do. if they give you a green light, you'll be pretty well off.